Get to know your Shopgirl: This week - Shaya!
Shaya walked into our lives as a passionate and artistic lovely teen girl. She would drop by after her classes (her high school was just a few blocks away), and we would always chat and we were just immediately taken with how mature, and sweet and just bursting with potential and curiosity she was. So she eventually came on as a co-op student, then worked her way to working full-time for us, and now we have her when she's on holidays from school at NSCAD. Shaya is a creative tour de force with a work ethic that is just as vibrant. We know one day we'll be saying "we knew her when" about Shaya - and we can't wait to be her bragging "Aunties"!
1. What is your zodiac sign?
Like my girl Oprah, Aquarius!
2. What do you do at Victoire?
As all my fellow shop gals have stated, I dabble in a little bit of everything! Victoire is definitely the kind of work environment that is flexible to your strong suits. That being said I take on a lot of creative projects that go on behind the scenes. I whip up our house line of jewelry, Steel Magnolias, make window displays from time to time, and other crafty things the Ottawa shops need!
3. Which Beyonce video most embodies your true self?
Groooown Woman is basically my anthem. Sounds hella cheesy but I listen to it when I need a good pep talk to remind me of who I am and everything I am capable of! And come on, seeing footage of little Bey and Kelly singing back in the day kills me! Reminds me of dancing around with my little sis as kids.
4. Tell us something you picked up from your mom.
I think I picked up her “I’ll believe it when I see it” attitude. Although she tends to be doubtful of things right off the bat, I’ve seen how it has motivated her to work harder and power through that state of limbo to see the good things on the other side!
I also inherited her love of dancing - she can seriously cut a rug! When in doubt, dance it out.
5. Describe your perfect day off.
My perfect day off would involve having breakfast with my roommates before heading out for yoga. I would pack myself a good lunch, a favourite book and my film camera so that after my yoga session I could head to a park and take photos along the way. I’d find a solid spot for a solo picnic and chill/read for awhile before going back home. My roomies and I would make a nice meal (the most BALLIN' pizza ever) and we’d have friends over in the evening so we can all stuff our faces and laugh as we marathon Rupaul’s Drag Race or Broad City!
6. You are doing the slow dramatic walk down the stairs in your prom dress in a teen movie. What song is playing?
Oh man, it would be a toss up between my favourite David Bowie song “Starman” or Beyonce’s "Crazy in Love". On one hand I can totally picture Bowie adoringly singing ‘star girl’ as I walk down the stairs. However, it would be so fun to strut through a crowd of my high school peers and pull a Sasha Fierce like I OWN the place.
7. If your look had a name, what would it be?
The hypothetical style child of Solange and Jane Birkin. These two rad ladies are vastly different but I draw inspiration from both of their style philosophies; a lil playful and bold with chill minimalist undertones, you feel me?
8. Recommend something to me:
The Selves by Sonja Ahlers is such a gem! If you’re into Rookie Mag and the overall aesthetic of the yearbooks they put out each year, you definitely have to check out this beautifully curated book of collage work. The artist has been a huge influence on Tavi Gevinson and actually worked closely with her on Yearbook One!
Ahlers explores the social construction of gender roles while playing up and remixing imagery from popular culture in an interesting, precious, and engaging way! It’s the kind of small art book you can flip through and have something speak to you for the first time months after putting it down.
Also, check out the song Genius of Love by Tom Tom Club - it’s one of my favorite summer jams of all time! Fun fact: Mariah Carey sampled it for her 90s classic, Fantasy, holla!
